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Stock market today: Asia mixed despite China growth data

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Tuesday as pessimism about global uncertainties remained even as China reported a better-than-expected economic growth data. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.5% in morning trading to 28,662.79. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.3% to 7,363.40. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.3% to 2,568.77. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.7% to 20,643.80, while the Shanghai Composite was little changed, inching down less than 0.1% to 3,384.33. Oil prices rose.Traders have been focused on data out of China, Asia’s chief engine for growth, and trading was muted until the release of the data. China’s growth target is 5% for this year. China’s first-quarter gross domestic product, which measures the value of a nation’s products and services, rose a better-than-expected 4.5%, according to official statistics. Analysts had expected 4% growth, following a 2.9% growth in the last quarter of 2022. Still, some analysts remained cautious. “This neither di...

G7 vows to intensify sanctions on Russia over war in Ukraine

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

KARUIZAWA, Japan (AP) — Group of Seven foreign ministers vowed to intensify sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine as they wrapped up their meeting in Japan on Tuesday. “We remain committed to intensifying sanctions against Russia, coordinating and fully enforcing them,” the G-7 ministers said in a communique released after the meeting Tuesday. “There can be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities such as Russia’s attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure,” they said. The ministers also agreed to continue their utmost support for Ukraine. Other key issues at the G-7 foreign ministers’ meeting included China, Taiwan and cooperation with the so-called Global South countries. The Associated Press

Mexican man: National Guard killed pregnant teen, other man

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican man said Monday that Mexico’s quasi-military National Guard opened fire on his SUV in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, killing his pregnant 15-year-old girlfriend and a 54-year-old friend, and wounding two other people. The killings come nearly two months after an army patrol shot to death five men in cartel-dominated Nuevo Laredo on Feb. 26. Four soldiers have been charged in that case, drawing more criticism for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s push to give the military a greater law enforcement role.According to a complaint filed Monday by the local nongovernmental organization the Human Rights Committee of Nuevo Laredo on behalf of the driver of the SUV and other victims, the deaths occurred Sunday on a highway in Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas. The shooting killed the young woman and her unborn child. One woman, 24, remains hospitalized.According to the complaint, which was addressed to López Obrador, the Interior an...

San Marcos CISD board approves school marshal program

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) - Monday night, the San Marcos CISD school board approved to begin the process of implementing a school marshal program for the district. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Marcos CISD school board discusses school marshal program At the meeting, several parents and community members spoke out against the idea. "We can do better than just more guns," said one SMCISD parent. What is the school marshal program?It's a licensing program under the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement that allows school employees to carry a gun on campus. The marshal must fulfill certain requirements like have a current license to carry, pass a psychological exam and complete the 80-hour school marshal training. People expressed concerns about potentially arming teachers, but San Marcos CISD School Board President Clementine Cantu said they wouldn't do that. "Thinking about retired law officers or retired military that they could come and be the marshals," Cantu said. She said according to ...

Fox News-Dominion libel case set to begin after brief delay

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

By DAVID BAUDER, RANDALL CHASE and GEOFF MULVIHILL (Associated Press)WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Delaware judge overseeing a voting machine company’s $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News delayed the opening of the trial Monday, raising the prospect that the two sides might attempt to settle before the eagerly watched case goes before a jury.Superior Court Judge Eric Davis suggested the sides try to mediate their dispute, according to a person close to Fox who was not authorized to speak publicly about the status of the lawsuit. Attorneys for both sides who appeared in court Monday declined to answer reporters’ questions about why it was put off, as did representatives for both companies.Davis gave no explanation for postponing the trial’s start until Tuesday, although he did note that delays are common and built into the schedule. Jury selection and opening statements were planned for the first day in a trial that, if it happens, is expected to last six weeks.“This is no...

Overland armored car robbery video reveals surprising actions

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

OVERLAND, Mo. – FOX 2 has obtained new video of an armored car robbery you must see to believe. It shows suspects determined to commit their crime even with police in sight. It also shows the suspects struggle with several apparent bags of cash before making several unusual moves.On the morning of Friday, April 14, you can see a Loomis armored vehicle pull onto the Save A Lot grocery store parking lot on Midland Boulevard near Woodson Road. Just after 9:52 a.m., you can see one Loomis employee open the back of his vehicle. A black Jeep Cherokee Limited pulls up right behind. A large suspect, who police say may be about 250 pounds, struggles with the bank employee until that employee runs into the grocery store.A second suspect gets out of the car at one point (police say a driver remained in the getaway car). They struggle with what appear to be three bank bags. The car starts to drive away and one of the suspects falls out of the car. The car stops as the robber then drags the fina...

St. Clair County Courthouse amps up security after bomb threat

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - A major, permanent security change at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville, Illinois, happened on Monday. The change came in response to a threat to blow up the building, along with recent mass shootings elsewhere.It was day one of having to pass through metal detectors to gain access to courthouse offices.“You know what, this is great. I like it,” said Dedra Moore, an attorney. Kim Gardner faces contempt of court after prosecutor no-shows murder trial “We’re thrilled we were able to get by without anything happening,” said Sgt. James Hendricks of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.The county will soon begin work to shift the current main courthouse entrance on West Main Street to the rear of the building at 1st and Washington.New security provisions were part of that plan, but with the recent incidents, authorities decided those new security provisions couldn’t wait.“Now is the day; don’t wait until it actually happens,” Hendricks said.Stewart L...

Handful of items left on Missouri Senate's in final weeks of session

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- There's one month left in the legislative session, and Missouri Senate Leadership said it has four big priorities left to accomplish before adjourning. Unlike last year at this time, senators on both sides of the aisle say relationships are still good in the upper chamber but with some major Republican priorities still on the agenda and the House pushing for the Senate to do more, it's possible that all could change. "The one thing we know about the Senate is it can change on a dime," Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, said. "I come in here in a certain mood and it's easily changed within 20 minutes."The Missouri General Assembly is in the home stretch of the 2023 legislative session. With four weeks left, Senate Leadership said there are four big issues left to tackle, along with next year's budget.  Kim Gardner faces contempt of court after prosecutor no-shows murder trial "Some form of school choice because we have open enrollment, initiative petition reform,...

Storm damages barn at Highland Saddle Cub; clean-up is underway

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

HIGHLAND, Ill. - People in the bi-state are cleaning up after Saturday's storms brought at least eight tornadoes across the area.One business in Highland, Illinois, is waiting on the National Weather Service to confirm a tornado ripped through their barn. The riding instructor at Highland Saddle Club said one of the horses tragically did not survive the storm.“It was just devastation. I knew it was wrecked, and my immediate concern was that none of the horses were injured, which unfortunately was not the case," said Michele Jones, a riding instructor at Highland Saddle Club. Kim Gardner faces contempt of court after prosecutor no-shows murder trial Kevin Gleason is the owner of Highland Saddle Club. He and his wife had just gotten home from celebrating their anniversary when the storm hit.“We waited a few minutes after the roar stopped, then we went outside, and literally we had horses loose on the property and fences down," Gleason said. “I feel a large part of my life is gone.”T...

You Paid For It: Normandy School District faces questions about its spending

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:30:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – The Normandy School District is facing some of the same issues as the Francis Howell district; rising costs on planned high school construction projects. Some of the culprits are the same, too. School board members say they were kept in the dark by school administrators.Normandy has a $32 million renovation of its high school. But now it’s going to cost $42 million dollars, $10 million dollars more than planned.Board Presidents Ron Roberts said there were a lot of changes to the project after it was approved.“The problem is we have experienced some change orders with the project here. Roughly about 13% of the budget; about $3.4 million,” he said. Kim Gardner faces contempt of court after prosecutor no-shows murder trial “I think the issue overall was transparency, communication. Sometimes, when you aren’t as forthcoming as you ought to be, then it causes a lot of confusion and a lot of problems. The board made decisions based on the information that was pre...